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regular-article-logo Saturday, 05 October 2024

Rajya Sabha lost over 76 working hours in monsoon session

The total sitting time available was 102 hours, out of which only 28 hours and 21 minutes were counted as 'functional time'

Our Bureau New Delhi Published 11.08.21, 10:50 PM
Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha File picture

Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday evening, two days ahead of the scheduled end of the Monsoon session.

The Rajya Sabha has lost a total of 76 hours and 26 minutes due to disruptions during the monsoon session. After the session ended the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said, the productivity has been decided as 28 per cent. The average productivity of the previous five sessions was 95 per cent. The Rajya Sabha passed 19 bills this time.

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The total sitting time available was 102 hours, out of which only 28 hours and 21 minutes were counted as "functional time", said the Rajya Sabha Secretariat in the statement.

The department related to the Standing Committees of Rajya Sabha met 17 times, and the average attendance in each of these meetings was 54.45 per cent - the highest ever, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said.

At least 406 Zero Hour and Special Mentions were lost due to disruptions.

Earlier in the day, amid continued uproar by opposition members, Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for 30 minutes, till 7.04 pm, soon after the house passed a bill for privatisation of state-owned general insurance companies. It was the third adjournment of the day. Before this, the proceedings were adjourned in the morning session till 12 pm and again for 15 minutes till 6.26 pm.

When the house reassembled at 6.26 pm, several slogan-shouting opposition members again trooped into the well of the house.

The General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2021 moved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was passed by a voice vote amid the uproar. However, the opposition members kept raising slogans and papers were flung in the air.

Union Minister and Leader of the House Piyush Goyal, while thanking the members who participated in the debate and helped in the passage of various bills, demanded strict action against the opposition MPs who created ruckus in the Upper House.

He demanded that a high-level committee be formed to look into the behaviour of members who hurt the security staff and tarnished the reputation of the august house.

Opposition members continued their protests over the Pegasus snooping row, farm laws and other issues that have marred the proceedings since the beginning of the session on July 19, and later walked out of the House.

"I feel strict action should be taken against the condemnable acts of some erring members.. the dignity of this august house has been lowered as security staff was attacked. Such behaviour will not be tolerated and we condemn it," Goyal said.

"We feel that a special committee should be constituted by the chairman to look into all aspects, go deeply into all incidents of violence and take stern steps to avoid such actions in future, so that this house and country is not disrespected in future," the leader of the house said.

He said no simple punishment can suffice, as exemplary action should be taken against them to deter members from indulging in such violent acts in the future.

Goyal also thanked the members for enabling the passage of 21 bills during this session.

On Tuesday, some TMC, Congress, AAP and Left MPs climbed on the House Table which is placed right below the presiding officers' chair and shouted slogans, forcing multiple adjournments. A Congress MP also threw a file towards the Chair.

Goyal said that after witnessing the scenes of violent actions by opposition members in this House on Tuesday, the country would give a reply to such parties in the coming times.

"The 254th session of the Rajya Sabha which commences on July 19 has now come to a close," deputy chairman Harivansh announced.

"The house is adjourned sine die," he said.

Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2021 that restores the states' right to create their OBC list, General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2021, the National Commission for Homoeopathy (Amendment) Bill, 2021, and the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

All four bills were already approved by Lok Sabha.

Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha was also adjourned sine die.

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